Accepting SNAP/EBT at your farm.
SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfer) are federal nutrition benefits used by millions of families. Accepting them at your farm expands your customer base and serves the families that need fresh food the most.
How SNAP Works at Farmers Markets and CSAs
SNAP benefits are loaded onto EBT cards monthly. Families can use them to purchase eligible food items including fresh produce, meat, dairy, and seeds. To accept SNAP at your farm, you need authorization from the USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS). The process takes 2-6 weeks and involves applying through the FNS online portal.
What is HIP?
Rhode Island's Healthy Incentives Program (HIP) provides a dollar-for-dollar match when SNAP recipients purchase local fruits and vegetables from certified HIP vendors. A family spending $48/month on SNAP-eligible produce at your farm gets $48 back on their EBT card, up to a monthly cap that varies by household size ($40 for one or two people, $60 for three or four, $80 for five or more). The farm receives the full payment. A farm enrolling in HIP can offer SNAP families effectively half-price produce while still being paid in full.
How to Get Authorized
Apply for USDA FNS authorization at fns.usda.gov
Once authorized, apply for Rhode Island HIP vendor certification through RI DEM
Set up your EBT terminal (wireless terminals available for $20-50/month through providers like Novo Dia Group)
Register with Farm Fresh RI's Bonus Bucks program for additional SNAP matching at markets
What is Bonus Bucks?
Bonus Bucks is administered by Farm Fresh RI. It doubles SNAP spending at participating farmers markets. For every dollar a family spends with EBT, they get a free dollar in Bonus Bucks to spend on fresh fruits and vegetables. Bonus Bucks is accepted at all Farm Fresh RI markets and many other markets across the state.